Social Policy for an Aging Society

Abstract

This paper provides a discussion of general issues and debates associated with population aging in Canada, using a framework that focuses upon: historical and present - day tensions regarding the principles underlying policies, and between economic and policies; the salience of gender to policy; and the relevance of challenges to persons of all ages in an aging population. Four issues regarding the aged are discussed: criteria for resource allocation, service delivery, models of care, and workplace policies. Selected issues related to an aging society are examined, including intergenerational equity/economics of aging, demographic policies, child care policy, and informal care - giving. Cet article discute l'ensemble des questions et des debats souleves par le vieillissement de la population au Canada en le situant dans un cadre qui privilegie les tensions historiques et actuelles a l'egard des principes qui sous -location, service delivery, models of care, and workplace policies. Selected issues related to an aging society are examined, including intergenerational equity/economics of aging, demographic policies, child care policy, and informal care - giving. Cet article discute l'ensemble des questions et des debats souleves par le vieillissement de la population au Canada en le situant dans un cadre qui privilegie les tensions historiques et actuelles a l'egard des principes qui sous -mine une selection de questions de politique sociale concernant une societe vieillissante, y compris l'equite entre les generations/les defis economiques du vieillissement, les politiques demographiques, la politique de l'assistance a l'enfance et l'aide benevole.IntroductionAs the Canadian population ages, will be challenged. This is not because demographic change creates a crisis, but rather because population aging is part of other societal forces and changes -- such as socio - economic development, family changes, value changes, increased control over birth, death, and disease, etc. -- all of which have dimensions.The term social policy refers to arrangements at the distribution of resources and the promotion of the of the individual or the individual and society, and concerned with choices among values.(f.1) The term social arrangementsmeans both that policies reflect power relations (i.e. are political)(f.2) and that they encompass more than government (or public) interventions; the clause aimed at the distribution of resources and the promotion of welfare suggests that such aims are not always successful; and the phrase competing values highlights the contradictions in meshing state policies with a market - based economy. This latter point relates to conflicts between economic and policy, given differing underlying assumptions, that may be handled differently in various countries.(f.3)This analysis is based on three premises: that historical and present - day tensions regarding principles underlying policies, and between and economic policies, will shape the agenda of the future; that gender issues will figure more prominently in debates as the Canadian population continues to age; and that challenges related to an aging society are not, and will not be, restricted to elderly persons only. Indeed, such challenges encompass all age groups and society as a whole. Given the importance of this third point, this paper is divided into two major sections -- issues for the aged and issues for an aging society. The distinction emphasizes that the policies typically associated with older persons (such as pensions and health care) comprise only one part of the arena as a population ages. Social Policy Issues Regarding the AgedCriteria for Resource Allocation to Older CanadiansThe criteria for Canadian policies for the elderly have evolved into a complex mixture combining various principles of allocation -- age, need, and merit. …